Is the american dream still possible? 5

[Polu]

Hello.

I am from Spain. I am a Computer Engineer (5 years at University). I have worked for three years as a consultant in a major company all over Europe and Latin-America. It was a challenging and fulfilling job but too much overtime (+80 hours per week) and too much political crap. I designed systems handling millions of transactions per day and I was very proud of it.

After that I worked for two years in a Madrid based, english speaking, "one product company". I developed the product from version X to version X+N. It was a very stable company, I was well payed and I worked less than 35 hours per week. After some time I was sick to death because my job was not challenging at all. Once you learn the product, there is nothing else to challenge you, it is just a very repetive work.

Now I am working in the IT department of an english speaking, non-IT company. They planned to develop a big internal tool and hired some developers including me but now they have abandoned the project and I am doing support. I don't like support. I don't like it at all. A user called me in despair because "all her icons were missing". She tried to kill excel.exe and killed explorer.exe. This is the kind of things I am doing now

In the meantime, two years ago I started a PhD related to BioInformatics and Biotech. I will need at least another two years to complete it.

In the end, I have worked at a consulting firm, at a product company and at a non-IT company and none of these jobs have been good enough for me in the long term.

I feel I am at the top of spanish IT jobs. I don't think I am going to find a better job or to make more money in Spain. It's not gonna happen, my salary is more than double the usual for a developer in Spain. This is not a first class country as the U.S., UK or Germany so there are no better jobs, spanish job market for geeks is what it is.

At this point, I have the first big question: It is me? Do I expect unreasonable things from a job? Am I unable to keep a job? Will I be always tired and bored of any job after two years? Will I be hopping from job to job every two years for the rest of my life?

I don't give up, and I am still looking for the perfect job, but I have started to search outside Spain. In London or Amsterdam there are very compelling jobs. As a E.U. citizen I don't need any kind of migration paperwork nor visa or "green card" to work there. No doubt these jobs will be a big step ahead for me but, still, I think after may be five years and two or thee jobs in London I will find myself in the same place I am now: wishing a better job that is not availabe in Europe.

So I think I could skip the London experience and go straigh to U.S., looking for the american dream, looking for a exciting job and, may be three or four years later the opportunity to start my own company and (hopefully) conquer the world

At the U.S. I know I will be a H1B worker. My wife will move with me but we will be an ocean apart from our friends and family. London is just a two hours and a half trip from Madrid so we could be back for a weekend every now and then.

I have never been in the US so I don't know how it is for real but, acording to CNN, Hollywood and the Internet I feel a bit scared about my legal status and rigths over there as a foreigner.

So now my second and more importan question: Is the american dream still possible? Will I find exciting jobs there? Will I have the opportunity to reshape the world with my technology?

Please, any advive will be welcomed. Thank you all.

 

[baltman]

http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/eligibility2.htm

The general visa pool is 65,000 per year and fills up almost immediately.

I'm just suggesting a way to maximize the odds. Having a US degree is the way to maximize those odds. Yes, an 'equivalent degree' qualifies, but you are not in the country to do job interviews.

http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/h1b.htm

A student visa is the easiest way to get your foot in the door in to the US.

Brian

 

[Fatboy0341]

99% of the illegals who come here work off the books for cash and they never pay into Social Security. That's a fact.

They send their money home to their families because they can live like kings on the American dollars that are sent home.

It's not the USA's responsibility to make it EASIER to come here to live. I mean...that kind of thinking is what's wrong with this whole problem. Citizenship in the US or any other country should be EARNED...not handed over easily. If you have to work for it - it will end up meaning something once you finally have it.

I am all for immigration as long as it's done legally. If it's really hard to become a citizen - you'll just have to deal with it...that's the way the world works. I'm just floored that the popular consensus among non-citizens is that it's our job to make it easier to become one. They come here - get free healthcare that we all pay for, they work off the books for cash, never pay into social security or taxes, send all their money home - and that's OUR problem? People that do that are leeches with only themselves in mind...not the good of this country.

Anyone who comes here legally and pays their dues in the interest of becomig a citizen has my blessing and I applaud them - regardless of where they come from.

I'm glad they are putting up a fence...it's our country and we have every right to do so. I hope Mr. Fox doe sthe right thing and tries to make it better in his own country so people have an incentive to stay there instead of crossing the border illegally.

It's at a point in this country where a non-citizen has more rights than citizens do...and that's wrong. It cheapens everything this country stands for.

Sorry for the tangent and I hope I didn't offend anyone. Facts are facts and sometimes things are cut and dry. Political correctness doesn't do anyone any good and skirting around the real issues never gets the real problems out in the open.

JB



"He who laughs last probably made a backup. He who laughs loudest probably hasn't checked his backups in a while."

 

[lespaul]

I'm glad they are putting up a fence.

Just out of curiousity, do you live anywhere near where the proposed fence is going?

Did the lessons of the Berlin wall go unnoticed?

What about a fence between the US and Canada? If we are going to seal the borders, why is it only a specific border? The drug dealers come across from Canada like the illegals come across from Mexico...what's the difference?

Do you realize that many animals migrate across the affected areas? How do you propose to allow the animals to continue with their migration if there's a fence in the way?

What about the river (the Rio Grande)? Going to put a fence through the middle of the river too?

Leslie

 

[Fatboy0341]

Yes Leslie - I realize that animals migrate. They are not sealing the border - thay are making it more difficult for people to cross the border illegally in high-traffic areas.

If you believe that there are just as many people crossing illegally from Canada into the US than there are from Mexico into the US then you are sorely misinformed. Drug dealers from Canada? How about the tunnels from MExico into Arizona and the pounds of marijuana and cocaine that are smuggled in from Mexico? When was the last time you heard about a truck load of Canadians being busted on their way into the US? You never heard that and you know why? Because Canada spends money on their infrastructure and their people and their citizens have an INCENTIVE TO STAY IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY.

I have family in Arizona and New Mexico. I also worked with border patrol in Arizona for a few months while I was in the service...right along the Arizona-Mexico border. I'm not commenting on all of this from far away with no clue about what it's really like.

If you read the proposal - the fences are a deterrent and a way to channel people into smaller areas so they are easy to catch. Unfortunately - a fence will affect animals to some extent but they will adjust and they will be able to get around it. If you are going to use animals as a trump card - then go and argue against any and all construction anywhere in the world - there are a hell of a lot more animals being displaced by new home construction and highways across the world.

They are building 700 mile fence built to stop people from coming into the US illegally and raping the system (take a look at the Los Angeles healthcare system - it is about to go bankrupt because 70% of the people enjoying the benefits of the system aren;t paying into it)...there's nothing wrong with that. Comparing that to the Berlin wall is completely absurd and irresponsible. The only similarities between the two are that they are both walls. I have walls in my house...I also have a door that I lock to keep people out.

If I break into your house...and you catch me - and my excuse is that I'm hard working and my own house isn't as nice as yours - is that an excuse for me to be able to stay? Should I be able to force you to feed me and pay for my wife to have another baby and put my kids through school and pay my medical bills? And by the way - I won't pay any rent because I'm sending my money back home to my brother.

Sorry again to go off on a tangent...I'm done talking about this subject with someone who doesn't get it. We have a right to make sure that people don't come here illegally and taking and taking and taking without ever giving anything back.



"He who laughs last probably made a backup. He who laughs loudest probably hasn't checked his backups in a while."

 

[flapeyre]

Did the lessons of the Berlin wall go unnoticed?[/b]
The Mexican government, unlike the DDR, does not shoot to kill people attempting to cross the border into the US.

Feles mala! Cur cista non uteris? Stramentum novum in ea posui!

 

[Stella740pl]

Hi, Polu,

Are you still checking out this thread?
What do you think so far?

 

[kHz]

drug dealers come across from Canada like the illegals come across from Mexico...what's the difference?

There aren't 12 million illegal Canadians in the US expecting Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, Education and every other service spineless liberals give away.

And Mexico is known for drug lords and and having entrenched drug smuggling. Canada has a good economy, and while there may be some drugs crossing the border, it isn't anywhere as serious as that on the southern border.

Isn't a fence better than a DMZ? Of course it could be a Berlin Wall or a South-North Korea DMZ. Not too many people successfully cross or crossed either.

This is a tech forum, but you brought it up.

I don't have a problem with LEGAL immigrants, but illegals should be deported on THEIR dime. And I wish EVERY state would put the Colorado fall initiative on their ballots. It denies SS, Medicaid, etc. to illegals. The gutless wonders tried to keep it off the ballot but a judge ruled (thankfully) it could go on the ballot.

Of course, (when it passes) it will be challenged (of course) in court by those who want to give away everything to those who don't desreve it.

My own state passed a law that ILLEGAL immigant's children can get in-state college tuition. Yet, children of out-state LEGAL immigrants AND children of out-state US CITIZENS have to pay out-state tuition.

Why sould a US citizen of Ohio (out-state) have to pay out-state tuition for their child to attend our state university but an ILLEGAL immigrant who broke US laws, gets rewarded and can pay in-state tuition?

They shouldn't even have been here in the first place.

All Congress needs to do is ENFORCE the CURRENT immigration laws. Illegals immigration has increased something like 50% in the last few years. Crack down. Deport them and make them pay for it. And if they are caught a third time, I would rather pay to have them in a federal prison for 5 years than have to pay SS, Medicaid, education and everything else. Harsh? Maybe they would get the hint.

And illegals protesting in the streets and carrying the Mexican flag for their rights in the US? Immigration should have been there to arrest people. Why aren't they so adamant about their own rights in their own country?

(and before anyone says anything - I was in the USAF)

 

[aarenot]

Is the American dream still alive? I will tell you something about me, then you tell me if it is.

I am 40 years old, High school diploma, no college degree, but some college. I have three kids, 3000 square feet in a neighborhood that I do not lock the doors at night, three 8 year old cars with a total of 200,000 miles, company vehicle, I study at home and educate myself, take courses for certifications, or just take the tests from home study. I work 40 hrs/week, and gross over $50K in the midwest. My kids go to private school, two teens and one younger, none of which I have never heard say any word you can not say on broadcast TV. I go on vacation, but mostly camp, and have 10% going in the 401K.

I work side jobs on ocasion, but only ones that I find interesting, or that will teach me somne skill I want like siding my house, driving a limousine, or for trading my services, because that is not taxable.

I think the American dream is alive, as long as you do not spend all your time sleeping, or lounging around.

You do not always get what you pay for, but you never get what you do not pay for.

 

[Hap007]

Hi Polu,

Sounds like you have no problem finding a job that covers your financial needs, but it is the mental challenge that is driving you toward a change.

I might suggest an alternative.

Keep your current job to pay the bills and attempt to start you own company/project/product on you own time.

This extra activity will certainly challenge you and this is part of the American dream, being self employed and/or self made.

With the Internet and global communication, you can almost position yourself as an American entity and yet still live in Madrid.

Just a suggestion,
Hap...


Access Developer

http://www.fcs-software.com/fcsaccessdev.html

Access based Add-on Solutions
Access Consultants forum

http://www.tek-tips.com/threadminder.cfm?pid=1121

 

[aarenot]

Also, If you are not challeneged by your work experience consider other activities to give you a sense of challenge, and accomplishment. I have been involved in mentoring for 20 years, and it does offer more fulfillment than my job does, even though I do enjoy my work.

It is easy to find challengng work if you are willing to onate your time. It will also build your resume.
+--

You do not always get what you pay for, but you never get what you do not pay for.

 

[gbaughma]

Is the American Dream still possible?

Yes. But it's manufactured in China, and sells for less than it used to.

<Smirk>

Actually, I have a friend who came over to the US from Greece with his mother, father, and brother when he was a little boy.

His entire family consisted of the 4 of them and two suitcases. His father worked as a taylor, and put his sons through school.

My friend just finished building a brand-new $1/2M house. He runs his own clinic.

The american dream is still alive; it's just that Americans have gotten so "used" to all the opportunity, they don't take it.

Go to a naturalization ceremony some time (I happened to be in a convention center in Minneapolis the same day they were doing a naturalization). You'll see the American Dream shining brightly in the eyes of every single person standing there in line waiting to take their oath.

I wonder how many "pure-bread born in the U.S.A. Americans" would be able to pass the test that they had to take to become naturalized?



Just my 2¢

"In order to start solving a problem, one must first identify its owner." --Me
--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[kHz]

I wonder how many "pure-bread born in the U.S.A. Americans" would be able to pass the test that they had to take to become naturalized?

4 out of 100 (on a good day)!

 

[mmorancbt]

KHz and others.

I agree. We homeskul - oops - homeschool our kids. One very important idea we try to drive home - other than, "you are self-employed, even if you work for someone and must create value daily" - is a very thorough study of:

John Locke and his writing - particular those on government's structure and purpose. It is core to understanding the Founding Fathers and the American Revolution.

Plus: We read, in its entirety, the Constitution every year - and take special note of the original Bill of Rights. Finally, the Declaration of Independence - perhaps one of the most amazing pieces of literature that can be read in just a few minutes.

While I have no problem with altering or adding to our rules of government, I sometimes wish that the the right to vote was earned through a study of these founding principles.

Matthew Moran (career blog and podcast below)
Career Advice with Attitude for the IT Pro

http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/pm/career

http://techcareerconsult.blogspot.com

 

[aarenot]

hey morancbt,

i do credit 10 years of unschooling/homeschooling to the lack of the words you can not say on broadcast tv, as well as the 'self employed to learn' attitude of my kids. i hope it transfers to being self employed no matter who signs their check down the road. also, i think that the founding fathers were also volunteers, as they probably were not getting a real paycheck for their efforts to help steer and lead this nation we now call home.
also, in case you did not know, in the institutes of higher learning in the usa, homeschooled kids as a group are outperforming those educated in the government, private, or perochial schools as a group on a regular basis. you are doing them a great service, keep up the hard work.


You do not always get what you pay for, but you never get what you do not pay for.

 

[gbaughma]

aarenot:

That's amazing.... you're like, my twin (almost).

I'm 40 years old, 3 kids (2 boys and a girl, 19, 18, and 17), I have about a 3,000 square foot house in a nice neighborhood, I lock my doors but only because I *used* to live in Joliet, Illinois, so I do it out of habit. I have a high school diploma and some college, but no degree. I have 20+ years of computer experience, however. 1998 jeep, 2000 alero, and a 71 motorhome. The motorhome has the least # of miles. <lol>

I work my 40 hour job as an IT supervisor, part-time for a sound and lighting company, consult for a bank, and run my own business answering wifi support calls for 5 hotels.

I make about 55K with everything that I do, and my wife makes another 20 working at a bank. I'm in debt up to my eyeballs, after having bought a new house, completely gutting and remodeling the kitchen, and replacing 25 windows in the new house.

But I'm happy... and look forward to a time when I'll be "debt free", which will never happen, because there will always be a car payment or something, even after the house is paid off in another 28 years.

Unless I hit the lotto.

But my dream? It's coming true. My parents were poor; they never owned a house. Never. Both of them died penniless, and in fact, I had to pay for my mother's funeral out of my own pocket; she had no insurance or anything. They never stayed anywhere for more than 2 years, and spent most of their time running from debt collectors.

I decided that wasn't the way I wanted to live. So, I'm proof that you don't have to follow in your parent's footsteps. I have a pension now, and a 403b (the non-profit version of the 401k). My kids will have to work for themselves; I can't buy them a new car for graduation (I can't even buy myself a new car...), my daughter never got a pony for her 16th birthday. But she's fed, clothed, and in the process of being educated. Hopefully, all of my kids will decide to do better than I have.



Just my 2¢

"In order to start solving a problem, one must first identify its owner." --Me
--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[mmorancbt]

Not an indication that you need it but...

I just did a blog series on managing finances and particularly the concept of being debt free (which I believe you can do)...

You can read the "Money Matters" - parts 1-3 here:

http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/pm/career/archives/categories/Economy+of+One

I draw a lot of ideas/material from Dave Ramsey..

http://www.daveramsey.com

Enjoy!

Matthew Moran (career blog and podcast below)
Career Advice with Attitude for the IT Pro

http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/pm/career

http://techcareerconsult.blogspot.com

 

[aarenot]

well, the cars are paid for, and no brand new one coming until i can pay cash, or zero interest, lol.

the kids are 2 teen girls, and an elementary age son.

half the house needs a remodel, but it will wait for refi, or cash piece by piece.

my goal before these other things is to get my wife back home full time as she desires. so she can work toward our goals with our kids.

i guess her mentor would be in her chosen lifes endeavor to be like barbara bush. invest in our kids and watch and see what happens. she may not have the success of barbara bush in investing in her family as barbara did,
-------------------
husband cia director, liason to china, rnc chairman, ambassador to the un, congressman, vice president, president.
son, governor of florida
son, president of the usa
-----------------------
but i am certain she had as much to do with the investments made in her family as anyone else did, and therefore in their accomplishments.

i want to put my wife in that position like my mother had, and my wife also desires.

i think, that we most likely had that in common as well. someone invested in us out of their desire to do so. maybe not in ponies, or cars, but in their time, and life. in that i hope more in our age group, with intent, do the same. it seems that investment has a perception of little value in our current culture in comparison to investing in ones carreers. it seems that society has no value for these things any longer, but only contribution through proffessional carreers.
we may have returns in the bank, but they can not buy what our society lacks when we do not have the investments in our children.






You do not always get what you pay for, but you never get what you do not pay for.

 

[Welshbird]

take a look at the Los Angeles healthcare system

Woah!

For all that those of us in the UK complain about our NHS, we do know that it is without compare anywhere. And, at least for me, one of the things I love about it is the fact that we will treat anyone; regardless of ability to pay; insurance; nationality; 'right' to be treated.

I don't want to be overly political here, but just be careful what you wish for...

Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[kHz]

And ANYONE can get hospital care in the United States, even without insurance. And NO child under 18 HAS to go without insurance because they can be covered by the state if the parents would sign them up.

A hospital cannot deny care to someone who needs it. A lot of people without money and insurance use the emergency room for that purpose.

A lot of what people hear and read is an agenda the media wants to press.

Not to get political, but the media publishes daily the military death toll in Iraq. After 3 1/2 years of war the number is around 2800. I am not going to argue shoulda/woulda/coulda.

But does the media publish the annual homicide rate in the US? It is 16,000+! In those 3 1/2 years there have been 56,000 murders in the US! Never hear that. How can that be reduced? What should be done? Never mentioned.

In 2002, there were more than 17,000 alcohol-related deaths on American highways! Where is the news media? Why can somebody have 6 DUI arrests and never spend any time in jail? Why can they be arrested and haven't gone to trial yet, and while awaiting that trial get arrested again for DUI and they cannot be punished with further charges because as far as the courts are concerned they haven't been convicted once. So even if they are arrested 12 times before their first trial and conviction, they will only have one conviction on record.

Murders + Alocohol-related deaths = 33,000+ annually. Where is the media? Where is their disdain? In 3 1/2 years there have been over 100,000 deaths from murder and alcohol yet it isn't even mentioned.

The media has an agenda. One is for the government to control healthcare. The government should provide for interstate commerce, national defense, and currency. Off the top of my head those are the major ones. Not education. Not social security. Not medicare and medicaid. Which medicare, medicaid, and SS are somewhere close to 75% of the federal budget.

Goverment should leave things alone and get out, but they get bigger and bigger. Control is the reason. Those in power have control over people. And people give them that power. People don't seem to care, they want the government to care for them. And the media is their tool.

Sorry for the rant.

 

[aarenot]

medical should be private sector always. the most the government should do is like with 401k's. make it tax free income deducted from pay checks with state government mandates on the plans that are offered at minimum requirements. allow more extensive plans for those who so choose to pay for them. the basic cost is then split between all state citizens at one rate for basic medical services. the insurance offerings should be through private sector insurance or health care providor organizations.
this plan should be mandatory for all.




You do not always get what you pay for, but you never get what you do not pay for.